Puzzle



Patented May'2, |899. W. J. BARRETT.

P U Z Z L E.

(Application led Feb. 6, 1899.)

No. 624,I58.

(NoModel.)

dttest:

.verse section on NrTnD STATES Fries..

PATENT r PUZZLE.

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,158, dated May 2, 1899.

Application filed February 6,

T0 @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WESLEY J. BARRETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of W'ayne and State 'of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Puzzles, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings.

My invention is a game or puzzle in which balls are used with a perforated and indented plate, the device to be held in the hand while the game is being played or worked out. The device comprises a cylindrical body with a perforated and indented diaphragm or partition upon which are placed balls, the ends of the cylinder or body being closed by transparent heads, as of glass or mica, or may be of fine wire-netting or perforated plates.

rIhe invention is hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l shows the exterior of the device with a portion of one head broken away. Fig. 2 shows one head removed to uncover the diaphragm. Fig. 3 shows the reverse side of the diaphragm, the head being omitted. Fig. iis mainlyatransthe dotted line 4 4 in Fig. l. Fig. 5 shows the graded balls. Fig. 6 shows a slightlmodication in which the diaphragm is movable, a part of the cylinder being sectioned on the broken dotted lines G 6 in Fig. 7 to show an opening therein. Fig. 7 is an edge view of the form shown in Fig. 6, parts being longitudinally sectioned on the radial dotted line 7 in Fig. Fig. S shows a slight modification of the form of the diaphragm.

Referring to the parts shown, A is a cylindrical body, open at its ends, made of pasteboard or sheet metal.

B is a diaphragm or partition transverse with the axis of the body A, dividing Vthe space within the latter.

O O are heads for the body to inclose the space therein, said heads being transparent or perforated, so that the diaphragm and balls may be seen through them. These heads may be held to place by any convenient means, as a band of paper or thin leather h on the outside 5o of the body and lapped over the edges of the two heads, as shown. The diaphragm, pref- 1899. Serial No.. 704,732. (No model.)

erably of sheet metal, is formed with a central circular opening a, and its two surfaces are divided into sectoral areas, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, said areas being preferably equal and of an equal number, the sectors on the two sides of the diaphragm being opposite each other.

d c2 a3 a4 c5 are a series of graded circular openings through the diaphragm, and b b b2 b3 b4, Fig. 2, are a series of graded depressions corresponding in diameter, respectively, with the openings a to a5. These series of openings and depressions are arranged in a circle concentric with the diaphragm and alternated, one being formed centrally in each sectoral area, as shown. Furthermore, the arrangement is such that the largest circle a' of the series is diametrically opposite the largest depression b, the next largest circle a2 being opposite the second largest depression h', and so on through the series, the smallest circle a5 being opposite the smallest depression h4.

The sectoral areas onA one side of the diaphragm are made of contrasting colors. (Represented in Fig. 2 by different kinds of lines.) For example, the areas c c are colored red, d d green, e c blue, ff yellow, and g g orange., the two diametrically opposite sectors in each case being of the same color. Thus speciied it will appear that the largest opening in the circle and the largest indentation are in fieldsof the same color-red and so onthrough the series, the smallest circle and the smallest indentation being in like fields of blue. Ou the reverse side (shown tors of the diaphragm pierced by the openings are of the same color as on the obversethat is to say', each opening of the series is in a field lof like color on both sides of the diahragm. The alternate sectors on the reverse side-those opposite the indentations-are all colored alike, as of a neutral-tint. In connection with the diaphragm thus formed are employed a series of graded balls l to 5, inclusive, (shown in Fig. 5,) adapted to roll upon the diaphragm as the position of the device is changed as to horizontality. The balls are colored to correspond with the colors of the sectors-that is to say, ball 2 orange, 3 yellow,

balll is colored red, i green, and 5 blue.

in Figs. 3, G, and S) the sec LII The relative sizes of the balls and the gradedl openings in the diaphragm are such that the opening a will catch the largest ball l only balls pass through. he

and let the other opening a2 will catch ball 2 and pass balls 3, 4, and 5. The opening d3 and pass balls 4 and 5. Th catch ball 4 and pass ball 5, be caught by opening a. ing a, largest ot' device being reversible.

Holding thepuzzle with the sidelof the diaphragm shown in Fig. 2 upward, the game is, first, to so manipulate the device by its position as opening, being the colors of the balls and those of the balls and the sectors matching. playing the first phase or lodged in a depression, broken and the player needs to begin again. Il", also, while playing the lodging the balls that may ously properly lodged, the be destroyed or the game b player must commence again.

reverse side of the diaphragm,

ings; but there kbeing no depressions in which the balls maybe entrapped this than either of those on the obverse above described; and this I call the easy side of the puzzle, and it is intended for beginners.

face of the diaforming the depressions side, play no part in the cally of the same construction as in the other form, it being much shorter. C are the same and held to means-a band 7L.' In thisconstruction the diaphragm B is made movable longitudinally within the body, as indicated in Fig. 7. The body is formed with three inclined slits t', equally spaced about its periphery, and the diaphragm is formed with three projecting reaching out through the respective By turning the diaphragm slightly upon its axis by pressing the parts 7s one way or the other the diaphragm may be made to assume either of the two positions shown by full and dotted lines in Fig. 7. movements of the diaphragmit passes across the middle plane of the body, its two positions The heads C place by the same -the balls on the easy will catch ball 3 e opening a4 will which latter will The central openall, is for the purpose 0f passing all the balls, as the playing is designed to be done on both sides of the diaphragm, the

varying to lodge each ball in its proper guided in the act by observing the sectoral fields, or, second, to lodge all of the balls in their respective depressions, the colors of If in part of the game a ball dropsthrough an opening or becomes the combination is second part of the game a ball passes through the diaphragm or becomes lodged in a wrong depression from which it cannot be dislodged without also dishave been previcombination will 1oken up and the In using the Fig. 3, the game is to catch the balls in the proper openplay is easier vtially as and for being equidistant from said plane. Aside from the projections 7c the diaphragm B is wholly like the diaphragm Bin the other form. Now if it be wished to play the game with side (shown in Fig. C) the diaphragm is i'irst turned so as to leave the most space above il', as appears in Fig. 7; or should it be wished to play with the balls on the other or hard side the device is inverted and the diaphragm moved to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7. In vplaying with the device in this form the larger balls would not, it is understood, pass wholly through the diaphragm on account of the space beneath being too narrow; but if a ball roll into an opening having a larger diameter than that of the ball it would drop sufficiently far to be held and so be out of the game until the device is inverted to again bring all the balls on the diaphragm and the game started anew. Vhen in using this form of the device the diaphragm is shifted at any time, care is taken to see that the balls are not in the way of its progress. It is moved upward and the balls are allowed to drop through it as it is elevated.

In the modification shown in Fig. S the diaphragm is formed with small circular ridges Z at the outsides of the openings, so the balls can reach the openings only from the inside.

What I claim as my invention is l. In a puzzle, a hollow cylindrical body with transparent heads, and a diaphragm between the heads, and balls to roll upon the diaphragm, the latter being movable longitudinally within the hollow body, substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

2. In a puzzle, a hollow cylindrical body with transparent heads, and a diaphragm bethe heads, and balls to roll upon the diaphragm, thelatterhaving perforations an d indentations arranged in a circle, substanthe purpose specified.

3. A puzzle consisting of a circular hollow bodyhaving transparentinclosing heads, and a diaphragm, and balls to roll upon the da; phragm, the latter yhaving perforations and indentations arranged in a circle concentric with the hollow body, the perforations and indentations being alternated, substantially as set forth.

t. A puzzle consisting of a circular hollow body having transparent inclosing heads, and a diaphragm, and balls to roll upon the diaand indentations being' diametrically opposite each other, substantially as speciiied.

5. A puzzle consisting of a circular hollow bodyhaving transparentinclosing heads, and

IOO

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ing perforations for the balls to pass through,

the perforated sectors on both faces being of the same color and corresponding with the y color of one ofthe balls, substantially as 15 shown and set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 2d day of February, 1899, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

VESLEY J. BARRETT.

Witnesses:

ENOS B. WHITMORE, M. L. WINsToN. 

